WRAL Sports Fan

College Football

College football begins with Central kickoff

Sep 2, 2010

North Carolina Central University is the first local college to take the field for the 2010 season. The Eagles take on visiting Johnson C. Smith Thursday night at 7.

The match-up pits former rivals from the CIAA, and JCSU looks to improve upon a loss last weekend against ECSU.

NCCU joins the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as a provisional member in 2010-2011 with full inclusion to come the following season.

NCCU played at the Division II level until three years ago when the school left the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association to move to Division I as an independent.

The MEAC affiliation means more home games for the Eagles and a chance to face schools more similar in size and resources.

The football team will play seven home games this season and five conference games.

All other sports will play a full conference schedule. NCCU will not be eligible for MEAC or NCAA championships until 2011-12.

St. Augustine's and Shaw also begin their seasons Thursday night.

St. Aug's faces Catawba in Salisbury, the second time in three years that the Falcons have opened at Shuford Stadium. Kick off is at 7 p.m.

Shaw travels to Virginia Union University for a 6 p.m. start. That game will be streamed live on the Internet at http://www.vuusports.com/.